Statement on the Translation of Voter Registration Forms into Additional Languages

Today, the New York City Campaign Finance Board (CFB) joined the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs in making voter registration forms available to the public in five additional languages: Arabic, French, French Creole, Russian and Urdu. Voter registration forms translated into these languages are available on the NYC Votes section of the CFB's website. 

 

Here is the statement delivered by the CFB's Executive Director, Amy Loprest, at this morning's press conference announcing the translations:

 

I am thrilled to be here today representing the New York City Campaign Finance Board and the CFB’s nonpartisan NYC Votes campaign for this important announcement. I want to thank Commissioner Agarwal for her leadership in making sure that thousands more New York City voters will now be able to read and understand our voter registration forms.

 

I also want to thank the elected officials here, particularly, Council members Treyger, Deutsch and Eugene for their leadership and advocacy on behalf of their constituents. We’ve heard for many years about the need for Russian-language election materials, in particular. So I am very pleased to work with you to make our elections more inclusive.

 

Providing these simple forms is an important step to accomplishing that goal for voters who speak Russian, Urdu, French, Haitian-Creole, and Arabic.

 

But our message today is not only aimed at voters who speak those languages. Today, New York City is sending a simple message to all its citizens: that we want you to vote, that your voice matters, and that our city works better when your voice is heard. Providing these registration forms in five new languages shows that the city is committed to broadening access to the democratic process for all voters.

 

Voters want and deserve clear, reliable information about elections that they can trust. Unfortunately, too many voters go looking for this information and cannot find it.

 

That’s why this effort doesn’t end with these new translations. The critical work of engaging and empowering voters goes on throughout the year and it must be done by organizations like CAMBA and the Shorefront Y. Community-based organizations play a critical role in shining a light on their community’s needs and empowering residents. We need grassroots groups to get people to the polls on Election Day and keep them engaged in the months and years afterwards.

 

Thanks once again to the leaders who made this possible. I will leave you with the reminder to fill out your voter registration form today! We have some here and available on the NYC Votes section of our website. This is a historic election year – no one should miss their chance to speak up. The deadline to register to vote in the state primary is August 19th. Don’t wait – get your form in today.

 

Thank you very much.

 

NYC Votes is the non-partisan voter engagement campaign of the New York City Campaign Finance Board (CFB) and its Voter Assistance Advisory Committee (VAAC). In addition to promoting voter registration, participation, and civic engagement in New York City through its many programs and partnerships, NYC Votes sponsors the city’s official Debate Program and produces the citywide Voter Guide.